1st Mipham Rinpoche or Mipam Gyatso

The 1st Mipham Rinpoche or Mipam Gyatso (1846-1912), born in Derge, started to study in an age of six and, when he was 10, he already composed short texts. He soon was highly regarded for his philosophical poetry and scholarship.

In an age of 12 he became a monk and connected to the Nyingma lineage in Mindroling (one of the Nyingma mother-monasteries). He was a tertön and wrote an enormous amount of treatises and commentaries about sutra and tantra.

He was in close contact with Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgön Kongtrul, from whom he got many teachings and transmissions. Mipham Gyatso was one of the central figures within the Rimé movement.

The 1st Mipham Rinpoche also spent many years in strict meditation retreat and displayed many signs of enlightenment. Because of his extensive knowledge and deep realization. He was counted among the most extraordinary masters of his time. In his 3rd incarnation he is the father of our 17th Karmapa.